If you’re in the US and thinking about buying a flip phone in 2025, the choice really comes down to two names: Samsung’s latest Flip and Motorola’s premium Razr. Both are strong upgrades from last year, and both have their own little wins and flaws. I’ve had the chance to use them side by side, and the more time I spent with them, the clearer the differences became. So let’s break everything down and see which one makes more sense for you.
Design and Build
At first glance, the two phones look similar, but the moment you hold them, the differences show. Samsung’s new model is thinner and lighter, which makes it feel a bit more polished. It has flat sides and a clean matte finish, especially in this new blue color that looks refreshing.
Motorola takes a different approach. The Razr Ultra has more personality, with its brushed metal frame and multiple back options. There’s a wood version, an Alcantara version, and the classic glass one if you like a more traditional look. That variety alone gives it some charm. Another thing that stands out is how easy the Razr is to open. The curved sides make the motion smooth and effortless. Samsung’s flat sides look modern but are less practical when you’re trying to open the phone with one hand.
Display Experience
Once opened, both phones give you nearly seven inches of screen real estate. Samsung uses a 6.9-inch display while Motorola stretches it to 7 inches. Both companies have improved their screen creases so well that you barely notice them. You can feel them slightly, and you might catch a glimpse from certain angles, but it’s nowhere near the distraction it used to be.
Brightness is one place where the Razr gets ahead outdoors. It can hit higher peak brightness, making it easier to read under strong sunlight. Samsung counters with something surprisingly useful: the screen can dim down to almost nothing at night. If you scroll in bed or watch videos in the dark, that tiny dimness difference makes the phone far more comfortable.
Then there’s the aspect ratio. Samsung made the screen slightly wider this year, moving from the tall, narrow feel of older flip models. It lands closer to what a normal phone feels like. You get a bit more text on the screen, and everyday use just feels less awkward. It’s a small tweak, but it improves daily comfort more than you’d expect.
Hinge Build
Flip phones live or die by their hinge, and these two sound and feel different. Samsung’s hinge gives off a louder snap, while the Razr has a deeper, softer thump. Both can hold mid-angles for hands-free use, like video calls or taking selfies.
Where Samsung pulls ahead is stability. The Razr hinge looks cool but feels loose when you hold the phone at an angle. There’s noticeable wobble, and it doesn’t inspire long-term confidence. The Samsung hinge feels tight, secure, and just more solid. Only long-term use will prove durability, but at first impression, Samsung feels more dependable.
Software and Cover Screen
This is where the Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Motorola Razr Ultra comparison becomes interesting.
Motorola keeps its fun gesture shortcuts. A quick chop turns on the flashlight, and a twist opens the camera. After using them for a few days, you’ll catch yourself trying them on other phones too.
Samsung, on the other hand, feels more polished in everyday software. Switching between the cover screen and the main screen is smoother. Recording videos on the cover display and then opening the phone to continue feels natural except on the Razr, where it sometimes just goes blank in the middle of the process.
But Samsung still falls short on one key thing: the cover screen experience. You can run apps on it, but only after downloading an extra feature through a system add-on. And even then, it sometimes feels like an unfinished idea. Motorola’s approach is simple: add your apps and use them. No downloads, no modules, no hidden steps. Everything works out of the box and in a smoother way.
Then come the AI features. Samsung’s object removal tool is crazy good for fixing photos. Motorola includes a similar tool, but it’s not nearly as clean or accurate. Samsung also includes Dex this year, letting you plug the phone into a monitor and use it like a desktop. Most people won’t use it, but if you do, it’s extremely convenient.
Samsung also promises seven years of updates. Motorola sticks to three. That’s a big difference if you plan to keep your phone long-term.
Cameras
Both phones feature dual-camera setups with a 50-megapixel main shooter. In daylight, the differences show up quickly. Samsung tends to brighten photos and make them look a bit flatter. Motorola keeps more contrast and gives a more natural look. For everyday portrait-style shots and casual photography, I found Motorola’s results more appealing.
The ultra-wide cameras show the same pattern: brighter but washed-out from Samsung, richer contrast from Motorola.
When it comes to digital zoom, Samsung climbs ahead. At 5x and 10x, Samsung holds much better detail and controls bright areas more effectively. Motorola’s zoom quickly loses clarity and texture. But at around 3x, Motorola looks more natural because Samsung’s processing becomes too flat.
Selfies shine on both phones thanks to using the main cameras via the cover screen, so you really can’t go wrong there.
Video quality is also close, but Motorola again surprises. Even in broad daylight, Samsung’s footage has more noise in the background. Motorola keeps video cleaner, sharper, and with better contrast.
Battery and Charging
Battery life is another area where the Razr takes a strong lead. It has a bigger 4,700 mAh battery compared to Samsung’s 4,300 mAh. In web-browsing tests, the Razr pushes close to 24 hours, which is huge for a flip phone. Samsung gets around 19 hours.
But in YouTube video streaming, Motorola oddly performs worse. It drains faster than expected, lasting only a little over six hours, while Samsung reaches around nine and a half. Maybe the Razr’s speakers or optimization cause this drop.
Even considering that dip, Motorola’s battery still feels slightly more dependable throughout the day.
Charging is where Motorola absolutely crushes Samsung. With 68W charging, the Razr jumps to 80% in half an hour and fully charges in under 45 minutes. Samsung sticks with slow 25W charging, needing over an hour and a half.
Performance
Motorola also wins on speed. It runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, while Samsung uses its own Exynos variant this year. In benchmarks and heavy games, the gap is huge. Samsung throttles quickly and drops performance under load. In everyday use, though, Samsung still feels fine. Browsing, social media, and videos run smoothly.
For gaming and long work sessions, Motorola is clearly the stronger device.
Price and Final Decision (Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Motorola Razr Ultra)
Motorola prices its phone at $1,300, while Samsung starts at $1,100. Motorola includes more RAM and storage, but both are expensive. The good news? These phones go on sale often, so it’s better to wait and grab a discount.
Now, after using both, here’s the bottom line:
Samsung feels more durable, lighter, and has better AI tools. But the cover screen still feels restricted, and the performance is weaker.
Motorola has a more practical cover screen, stronger battery, faster charging, and easier one-hand opening. For everyday use, it simply feels more flexible.
If I had to pick one to buy today, I’d choose the Razr Ultra. It just fits the flip-phone lifestyle better.
Read Also Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE vs Motorola Razr: A Real-World Take on Two Compact Foldables
Discover more from Phoonomo
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
